Summary: Kaoru breathed in deeply, smoke filling his lungs and dulling his brain. He tips his head back, slowly exhaling. His mind is hazy as he watches the smoke, transfixed. Lazily, it wisps through the light, dancing along the gentle breeze coming through the apartment windows. Absentmindedly, he fiddled with the pipe, fingers brushing along the shank. It was a mix of wood and metal, a traditional styled tobacco pipe with a cherry blossom branch burned on the stem, a blossom engraved on the metallic shank. It was beautiful in its simplicity and more importantly it was a gift- from Kojiro. Despite his attempt to float above his emotions, reality broke through the haze and he slumped onto his knees. He should have predicted this, knew he shouldn’t have gotten high without some form of distraction to keep his attention. Maybe he had just been hoping Kojiro would be back by now. The green haired buffoon was a suitable enough distraction. Instead he is left to ruminate in the quiet of their shared apartment. He’s unsure how long he stares at the mattress between his knees. Graduation is fast upon them and Kojiro plans on leaving for Italy a month after their ceremony.
Prompt: MatchaBlossom Week 2021 Day 1: Birthday (Morning After)
Tags: Sensual Cuddles, Introspection, Joe POV, Romance, Kissing, Body Worship, Feelings
A/N: I never thought I had words for this story, which is why I had painted it initially. Yet, the words came to me later in a moment of clarity, just as they did for Kojirou, so I wrote them down and this is the result…
Both works are inspired by the song Come Clarity by In Flames.
Finally crossposting for @matchablossomweek
Summary:
The morning after, and forever after that.
Also on AO3
🍵🌸
“Good morning, Kaoru.” Kojirou greets his partner upon entering the bedroom. “Breakfast is ready when you are.” It’s early, so he takes special care in keeping his voice mild, honeying his words like the toast he has waiting on the table.
“I just need a few more moments.” Kaoru’s calm voice floats through the serene atmosphere of the room, mixing with the particles revealed by the early morning light. He’s draped across the bed like a cat savoring the day’s first spot of sun, his hair spilling over the sheets and pooling around the arm cradling his head.
He’s wearing appropriate attire: his birthday suit, save for a snug pair of boxer briefs hugging his hips.
“Still tired from the last night? It seemed like you slept well, though,” Kojirou says with a hint of worry in his voice.
“I did, actually. I’m just enjoying the sunrise,” Kaoru says, but turns his head to fix Kojirou with his golden eyes that speak of something deeper. “May I ask why you’re feeling me up this early in the morning?”
“Oh!” Kojirou has a hand placed absently on one of his long, toned legs. “Sorry, sorry. I didn’t realize,” he apologizes but doesn’t recoil, keeping his touch steady. “I guess I couldn’t help myself. Your legs are so soft and smooth,” he admits, grinning and gliding his hand indulgently up the full length of one, sinew and tendons flexing under the weight of his palm.
“Kojirou… mm… stop that…” Kaoru chides him, though his body speaks differently as his skin sparks visibly under Kojirou’s touch.
“Did you shave them? They feel great.”
“So what if I did? The hair bothers me, and it’s unsightly,” Kaoru snips, his attitude flaring defensively.
“Look, I’m not judging you! It’s a compliment,” Kojirou says, patting his calf gently to defuse him.
“Hm,” Kaoru responds in weak retort. “Then get over here and compliment me more.” He returns his attention to the outside world, body twisting and weeping toward the window like a flower deprived of sunshine.
Kaoru is calling for him to return to bed—Kojirou pauses to let that dawn on him alongside the sun, seconds passing to the beat of eyelashes against his cheeks.
If lingering doubt exists, it’s resolved by the second invitation written on his exposed back: for wandering hands to come and map its contours.
Kojirou complies by crawling his way across the sheets to claim the spot between his shoulders. He fits in the arch of Kaoru’s back as if it were carved out for him, and he holds him to his chest like an instrument of fine craftsmanship, hands playing over him, doing the work of complimenting this body tuned for him alone.
“Mm, feels good Kojirou.” Kaoru breathes out.
This is what he wants to hear. He knows he’s found the right frequency when Kaoru is more pliable, more honest with his words and body, and he doesn’t mind the bit of massaging it takes to get there.
He gathers his hair to the side gently and kisses his way up his neck, pausing to catch a glimpse of Kaoru’s expression: dazed, but content to savor the affection.
“The weather is beautiful today,” Kojirou says, though his fixed gaze only knows what is reflected through Kaoru’s blissed-out eyes, and the sunlit shadows cast over his sublime face.
“It is,” Kaoru returns, pupils flitting to the corners in a likened gesture of appreciation.
“Breakfast is going to get cold.” Kojirou thinks he should give a warning. Every minute his hands linger is another tug of the rope threatening to bind them to this bed for hours, but he knows pulling away too early would be like pulling them from a good dream.
“We can reheat it, right? I’m sure it will still be enjoyable.”
“We can.” Kojirou stunts his words, afraid to say more and risk having his compliment withdrawn.
“So hold me tighter,” Kaoru demands matter-of-factly.
Without protest, Kojirou pulls him closer and rests his chin in the curve of his collar bone. “Want to go for a ride today?”
“On your motorcycle? Or skating?”
“You get to decide. This is your weekend.”
“Then, I wouldn’t mind both. Take me somewhere. I want you to lead me.” Kaoru seeks out his hand and squeezes it tightly in that way he has of speaking wordless affirmations:
Squeeze. (I trust you to take care of me.)
Squeeze. (I love you for it.)
“Ok. Then, let’s ride until we reach our usual place. We can skate until the sun rises again.” Kojirou suggests close to his ear like he’s divulging acts of a more lascivious nature.
“I’d like that.” Kaoru’s face warms with a smile, and it’s a moment so rare and precious to Kojirou—he wants to treasure it forever with the pictures of more innocent times.
Forever. That’s right.
On mornings like this, thoughts click into place the same as their bodies, and everything becomes clear.
Looking beyond the gifted bouquet of sunflowers on the window sill, Kojirou sees their future as clear as the sky: they’ll share many more birthdays, together like this, getting older every day but holding each other just the same.
“I want to protect this happiness with you.”
(Forever.)
He’s sure of this, as sure as the sunrise, for with the morning light comes clarity.
